NSW AAGPS 2021

[Agent]

Anyone have information of the Shore 1st XV line up? TA

Analyser I watched Shore play Kinross during the holidays and Shore won pretty convincingly - about 7 tries to 2. I’m well and truely out of the loop with the who’s who or Shore rugby these days but they looked pretty sharp especially in the backs. Apparently Shore were not at full strength for that game so hopefully they can show some improvement this year in the GPS comp.

Hopefully someone else will give us a more in-depth rundown on what we can expect.

 

[Big Papi]

With the travel bubble being opened with New Zealand, does anyone know if there will be an Australian Schoolboys team that will get the chance to play NZ schools?

From what I saw at Rat Park last Saturday, my early tip for the 10/12 combo is Bowen and Odonnell from View. Looked very crisp, as if they have been playing together for 15 years.

Jorgenson (son of Peter) would be my tip in the 15 jersey, looked classy as a youngster last year.

Toodles
BP

 

[The Honey Badger]

Little bit of history time.

The fifteen in 1935 went through the season undefeated, their smallest winning margin being 22 to 6 against King's. The team scored 263 points (60 tries, 31 converted, and seven penalty goals) against 27 points (five tries and four penalty goals). Maurice Whelan showed pace, very sure handling, and ability to beat his opponent. He finished up the season by reaching a record points score for a G.P.S. player, 131 points in the seven competition games, made up of 16 tries, 7 penalty goals, and 31 conversions. I believe this still a AAGPS record.

16 tries...all done wearing the "WLF winter label" uniforms.

FINALLY, WE NOW KNOW THE ORIGINS OF THE SQUIRREL GRIP

thanks Joker

 

[WLF]

Unfortunately I had to leave before the firsts, so I have no first hand knowledge. I was told by some Newington parents who were there that Waverley were very good and that the score flattered Newington a little.

Unfortunately I think it's going to be a long, hard year for Newington. The 1sts are young and they'll need every available player on the field (which almost never happens to any school) to be competitive - as we were completely outclassed in 2nds and 3rds. I was very impressed with the depth that Waverley put out there and the style of rugby played in the 2nds and 3rds was very slick.

QH, Remember just game 1, a long way to go!

 

[Rugbyparent]

With the travel bubble being opened with New Zealand, does anyone know if there will be an Australian Schoolboys team that will get the chance to play NZ schools?

From what I saw at Rat Park last Saturday, my early tip for the 10/12 combo is Bowen and Odonnell from View. Looked very crisp, as if they have been playing together for 15 years.

Jorgenson (son of Peter) would be my tip in the 15 jersey, looked classy as a youngster last year.

Toodles
BP

The AUs v NZ games are still on the calendar the Gen Blue program distributed. Hopefully the NZ travel bubble will continue and allow those boys a chance to play. It does seem NSW rugby is trying to get all eligible players involved - School & Club, including those boys finished school. Late June all the associations play each other for a chance to make various NSW teams to play against Qld academy or at the schools tournament

 

[Big Papi]

Where are you hearing this? You certainly wouldn't have been hearing it around here for 2 or 3 years.

They appointed a new Director of Rugby 3 years ago and since that time the program has gone backwards. Things were on the improve under the previous DOR, but for some reason he wasn't renewed.

QH, it's BP

From what I remember, Newington were serious competitors around 2014-2017 in the 1st's (not so much throughout the age groups), any clue who's choice it was to appoint a new rugby director. If I remember correctly they had an unreal team and won plenty of games.

BP

 

[RonnyGibbs]

In 2017 Newington lost to Shore in the preseason

And the competition finished 4th, one win with a for of 137 and against of 218

 

[Martian Manhunter]

In 2017 Newington lost to Shore in the preseason

And the competition finished 4th, one win with a for of 137 and against of 218

Do you think it might have something to do with the coaching. I hear that the head coach used to be head coach at Sydney Grammar and had little success there. I don't believe that they have any shortage in talent so there must be something else afoot.

Kind regards,
Manhunter

 

[RonnyGibbs]

MMH, 2017 was the final year of the old DoR

 

[Quick Hands]

MMH, 2017 was the final year of the old DoR

2018

 

[RonnyGibbs]

I stand corrected QH

 

[The Honey Badger]

In 2017 Newington lost to Shore in the preseason

And the competition finished 4th, one win with a for of 137 and against of 218

The Humiliation !

 

[Love2Scrum]

I’m led to believe that there are 8 changes to the Newington 1st XV team for tomorrow’s battle against Barker College due to the injuries sustained against Waverley last week. 12 of the 15 boys are in Year 11.

Good luck to both schools and may the best team win.

 

[Love2Scrum]

Do you think it might have something to do with the coaching. I hear that the head coach used to be head coach at Sydney Grammar and had little success there. I don't believe that they have any shortage in talent so there must be something else afoot.

Kind regards,
Manhunter

The Director of Rugby is not the coach of the 1st XV however he is accountable for the Newington Rugby Program and the results it produces.

I agree with QH, Talent is there, but not being developed.

Since Lauchlan Fear’s appointment as the Director of Rugby in 2019,
The 1st XV have only won a total of 3 games (2019 vs Kings & Shore / 2020 vs Shore)

The 2nd XV have only won a total of 3 games (2019 vs Riverview, Scotts & Shore / 2020 0 Wins)

 

[GPS Observer]

I used to enjoy the Blues Brothers movie when they were putting the band back together.
What a hoot.

 

[Muminator]

Indeed you are correct and he's running rugby at Newington I suspect, along similar lines to what he did at Grammar and we're getting Grammar like results.

You'll note how Grammar have improved since he moved to Newington

Talent is there, but not being developed.

You’re right, the talent is there and definitely not being developed by the school at all. The school has never developed the talent of the boys, only the performance of the team as a whole. If the boys want development its something they need to seek out themselves because they’re not getting it from the school, which is what i believe a number of the boys have done. They haven’t had great player combinations in key positions for many years, and their lack of foresight is now bearing dry fruits.

Newington will struggle this year, but they may come good next year....just maybe.....if boys don’t leave the program after this year. There are some grumbles amongst the ranks and many boys (who were previous in the As and Bs in former years) have opted to not play at all this year.

The current year 12 boys are in a cohort that was identified early on as a group that will struggle, however the current year 11 boys, since year 7, were something special and had only lost 1 or 2 games throughout the years (in the As and Bs). Now that those boys and the current year 12 boys are mixed together in the opens they’ve lost the chemistry that seemed to work so well for them all as a stand alone age group.

I disagree that the previous DoR was fantastic, he only cared about the 1st and 2nd. I understand he was replaced because of his poor win/loss record and it’s said that he only wanted to play lesser graded teams in the lower grades to boost the win/loss ratio. the current DoR seemed promising at the beginning, and he’s taken a great interest in the school as a whole (plus the junior campuses, which no one has done previously) and not only focusing on 1st and 2nd, although it seems he’s much the same as the former one. And he doesn’t appear to have the support of a majority of the boys, is the mail that I’ve received.

It disappointing and Newington will struggle this year.

Side note: i heard current DoR moved from Grammar because it wasn’t a “rugby” school and he wasn’t able to implement the programs that he wanted that would allow Grammar to progress.

 

[Luca A]

For the early risers, this morning the Riverview 10th XV defeated their Oakhill peers 24-7 in a physical and entertaining clash at Lane Cove.

 

[Muminator]

I’m led to believe that there are 8 changes to the Newington 1st XV team for tomorrow’s battle against Barker College due to the injuries sustained against Waverley last week. 12 of the 15 boys are in Year 11.

Good luck to both schools and may the best team win.

Not entirely correct. There were a number of boys who were out of contention even before the Waverley game, but agree that they don’t have a full contingent on the field. 5 were lost due to concussion against Waverley (some were friendly fire!!)

 

[Muminator]

The Director of Rugby is not the coach of the 1st XV however he is accountable for the Newington Rugby Program and the results it produces.

I agree with QH, Talent is there, but not being developed.

Since Lauchlan Fear’s appointment as the Director of Rugby in 2019,
The 1st XV have only won a total of 3 games (2019 vs Kings & Shore / 2020 vs Shore)

The 2nd XV have only won a total of 3 games (2019 vs Riverview, Scotts & Shore / 2020 0 Wins)

‘

Wow, they’re some disappointing stats. Didn’t realise it was so poor.

 

[Luca A]

Joeys 5th 17 Kinross 2nd 0
Joeys 7th 36 Cranbrook 4th 12
Joeys 12th 17 Kinross 4th 20

Joeys 16F 12 Kinross 16B 24

Joeys 15B 19 St Ignatius' 12

Joeys 14A 41 King's 5
Joeys 14E 22 Kinross 14B 45

Joeys 13D 21 King's 13C 17